Finland used their backup against Slovakia, as Rinne wasn't feeling well, but they still got their fourth consecutive shutout and have set a new world championship record with 242 minutes and 38 seconds without allowing a goal. They can use their next game (against Belarus) to improve the record. Impressive.

I predict that the semifinals will be Canada vs Finland and Sweden vs USA, and then we hopefully get a Canada vs Sweden matchup in the final. And this time I hope Sweden has learnt how to hold on to a lead...

Tiger wrote:Now for the BIG ONE
A classic matchup .. Canada vs Russia..
Maybe the best hockey we will see this year..
Russia has the offence.. Canada the defence + Goaltending..

I am PUMPED for this game .. Go Canada.. Go Hamhuis

Yeah, for a tournament that is usually considered a B championship, this time the teams squaring off in the final look amazingly good.
Canada has probably the best team they've ever sent to a World Championship, which has also been proven on the ice, and the Russkies don't look too shabby either, with eg Ovechkin, Malkin and Kovalchuk in the line-up.

Canada should win this, but it won't be a walk in the park.

In the bronze game I'm hoping that Jagr can medal in his probably last international tournament, and on home ice to boot.

Island Nucklehead wrote:Our defence isn't that great, but that forward roster is likely a medal contender in any best-on-best tournament.

Yeah, both goaltending and defence could be improved, but the forward selection is mouth watering...

I guess when you can keep a team like Russia to under 10 shots in 1/2 a game you don't really need to have the best goalie in the tourney.

I get why they picked the "D" they did, guys like Hamhuis and Barrie are perfectly suited for the big ice, where physical play isn't as highly prized and skating and puck moving is such a premiere asset.

To be honest, I haven't even noticed Wiercioch, Savard or Muzzin all that much, which kind of indicates they've done their jobs. It's also good to get guys like Ekblad this kind of experience now because he'll likely be a fixture on these teams in the future.

With the way guys like Spezza, Hall, and Seguin have played, it's going to be tough to pick a World Cup team, that's for sure.

I mean, I've said all along that with a team like this Canada should win, but this is ridiculous.

At least we made you have to work up a sweat to beat Sweden.
Too bad we played like shit against Russia, because the way they've played tonight, they had no business being in this game.

Very deserving win for Canada, and Sidney Crosby becomes #26 to join the Triple Gold Club.

Yeah, that was a rape. Wasn't even close.

Easily the best team Canada has sent to this tourney in a while, and proof that if we even get a decent turnout from the NHL players, we can dominate any tourney. Canada could easily send a competitive second team to these things, considering we didn't have guys like Getzlaf, Perry, Subban, Price, Toews, Doughty, Keith, Weber, Pietrangelo, Tavares, Benn... yeah, could easily have 2 teams.